Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 44

Benedict

I didn’t mean for my simple response to Sloane’s question to cause her to fall into those deep thoughts she has where she pushes everyone around her out of her mental space. But somehow, I did.

“Sloane,” I say, watching her as her frown deepens.” Sloane!” I say more sharply, watching her jump at my tone. “Don’t over think my comment. You always underestimate yourself. You are amazing. You are always prepared for anything. I wasn’t trying to make you doubt yourself. I wanted you to realize that you, just like me, are always prepared for what comes at us.”

“I’m not sure l am, though,” she murmurs as we walk to the overhang.

“What aren’t you prepared for?” I ask her.

“I don’t know. How would I know that I’m not prepared until something comes at me that I’m not prepared for?” she asks.

I swing my arm at her face, ready to stop just shy of hitting her, but I don’t have to. She grabs my arm and swings it behind her.

“What the fuck, Benedict?” she growls.

“You didn’t see that coming and yet you were prepared forit,” I say to her, not at all intimidated by her angry aura, although I have to admit, it’s extremely impressive.

“Fighting is different,” she grumbles, letting me go.

“Is it?”

“Yes,” she insists.

“Why is it different?”

“Because I’ve been fighting most of life, nearly ten years.”

“So, let’s say that Scarlet comes to you when she and Daniel are having a fight. Are you telling me that you wouldn’t be able to counsel her as her friend and Alpha?”

“I have no idea,” she says empathically.

“Have you ever NOT been able to help Scarlet when she’s needed a friend or an Alpha?” I ask her.

She opens her mouth, then closes it. “That’s different.”

“No, it’s not. You’re making it different. What would you say to me if I told you I didn’t want to take over as Alpha in two days?”

“You don’t want to take over as Alpha?” she asks, looking appalled.

I close my eyes, asking the Moon Goddess for patience. ” Hypothetically speaking, what would you say to me, Sloane?””I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. Think about it. I don’t want to become the fucking Alpha of my pack, Sloane. What do I do?”

She frowns and begins thinking about my question while I lay out the blanket that was still in the back of my car from the last time we were here.

“Why don’t you want to become Alpha?” she asks me.

I shrug. “It’s a lot of work.”

“That it is. Are you afraid of hard work, Benedict? You’re Valedictorian. I don’t see you running from a challenge.”

“I’m co-Valedictorian, and see what I mean? You haven’t figured it out yet, Sloane, but you know the right questions to ask to get to the bottom of a problem. That’s what good Alphas do. You may not have trained to be an Alpha of a pack, but you’ve had an exceptional role model with Alpha Roman. If I were you and I didn’t know how to respond to something, l’d ask myself how he or Luna Samara would respond, and I’d use that as my guide.”

I watch her thinking through my comment as I sit on the blanket with her and open my laptop. When I get my notes pulled up, I lean over, setting the laptop between us.

“Okay, this is what I have so far,” I tell her.

I watch her face as she reads.

“Geez, Benedict. You’re a natural,” she murmurs.”So are you, Sloane,” I say and she immediately begins shaking her head.

“I don’t know the first thing about writing a speech.”

“Sloane, you’re an Alpha. You’re going to be the leader of your own pack. Stop underestimating yourself. Leaders lead. That’s what we do. Part of that is inspiring others with our words.”

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